CHAPTER XXIX 

 THE BREEDS OF SHEEP AND GOATS 



The origin of the domestic sheep is generally believed to 

 be from several kinds of wild sheep found in different parts 

 of the world. One of these is found in the hilly or mountain- 

 ous parts of Asia, and is known as the Argali. It is much 

 larger than our domestic sheep, has big horns, and a coat of 

 black or dark-red hair, below which is a covering of white 

 wool. Another form, called the Musmon, is found at the 

 present time on the islands of Sardinia and Corsica in the 

 Mediterranean sea, where they have become more or less 

 domesticated. Rocky Mountain Sheep are another sort liv- 

 ing on the higher mountains of North America. Wild sheep 

 have always been found in the elevated parts of Africa and 

 eastern Asia. All these sheep have certain features in com- 

 mon. 



Just how long sheep may have been subject to the control 

 of man we do not know. Neither have we any definite 

 information as to the wild family from which the domestic 

 form originally came. It is probable, however, that sheep 

 have been domesticated longer than any other farm animal. 

 Bones of sheep have been found among the remains of the 

 lake dwellers of Switzerland, a people who lived before 

 the dawn of history. The very earliest writings, including the 

 Bible, show man to have had large flocks of domestic sheep. 



Three distinct classes or groups of sheep are recognized, 

 depending largely upon the character of the fleece. These 

 are fine or short, medium, and long or coarse wools. These 

 classes are somewhat due to the sorting over of the fleeces 

 by the wool merchant, who finds that each class serves a 

 special purpose in his business. Another grouping is also 



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